Apply to Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

FALL ‘15 SEMESTER:

Applications for Fall ‘15 are now being accepted.

Applications continue to be accepted after the priority deadline, which was February 20, 2015. PNCA is on a rolling admissions cycle for all applicants and will continue to accept and review applications until the class is complete. Merit scholarships and need-based scholarships continue to be available.

Applications are reviewed only after ALL required materials have been submitted.

HOW TO APPLY

Step Two:
Complete the PNCA Undergraduate Online Application Form, and pay the Undergraduate Application Fee*. IMPORTANT: You MUST enable popup windows in your browser so that you will be directed to the payment page to pay your fee. If you aren’t redirected to the payment window after submitting the form, you haven’t completed Step Two. You’ll receive an email confirmation within 72 hours. But you don’t have to wait for that to move on to Step Three. (More Info About the Application Form | Go to the Application Form)

Step Three:
Submit your required Supplemental Materials, by uploading them at the website PNCA.Slideroom.com. You’ll need to create an account at that website to upload your supplemental materials. Be sure to select the correct Program in Slideroom: BFA/Undergraduate Programs - Fall 15). (More info About Slideroom | Go to Slideroom)

Have questions about how to apply? No problem! The Admissions office is happy to help! Email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Ready to start? Good luck!

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) welcomes applications from creative, disciplined and motivated prospective students. Applications are reviewed on an individual holistic basis to determine whether the undergraduate program matches a student’s educational and artistic goals. The admissions process is designed to identify prospective PNCA students who possess creative and technical skills, academic dedication, and the motivation and potential to be successful artists and designers.

If you are a Transfer or International student, you may have additional requirements to meet in order to apply. Refer to the Transfer or International guidelines for more information.

We strongly recommend that you read all of the requirements information on this page before beginning your application. Once you are ready to apply, you can begin the process here.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS AT PNCA:

PNCA BFA Online Application Form

This online application is used to gather the following information:

Personal information

Academic Information

Educational History

The application form must be completed in one session, and should take from 20 to 30 minutes to complete. You cannot save your application form and continue at a later date.

Once you’ve completed the application form, you will need to pay the $45 BFA Application Fee. You’ll need a credit or debit card to complete the transaction.

IMPORTANT: You need to enable popup windows in your browser so that you will be directed to the payment page to pay your fee.

After completing the PNCA BFA Online Application Form and paying the BFA Application Fee, you’ll receive a confirmation email within 72 hours. You DO NOT need to wait to receive this confirmation email to move on to submitting your Supplemental Materials.

Supplemental Materials

You must upload your Supplemental Materials online at the website PNCA.Slideroom.com. You’ll need to create an account to begin to upload your supplemental materials.

Once you create your PNCA.Slideroom.com account and login, you’ll be able to upload your supplemental materials, save your progress, and take as long as you need to complete your application before submitting. It’s an easy process, and you don’t have to pay an additional fee to use it.

If you need help with how to submit materials once you’re at the PNCA.Slideroom.com website, you can find an FAQ and searchable help.

If you have questions about submitting your Supplemental Materials, then call the Admissions Office at 503-821-8972 or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). We’re happy to help!

Portfolio

All applicants must provide a portfolio of 10 to 15 examples of their original creative work. Title, medium, and dimensions (2D/3D artwork)/length (time-based work) is required for each piece submitted. The portfolio is an essential part of the application and should contain an applicant’s best and most recent work. It can include classroom work, studio assignments, personal projects, and/or sketchbook work. It will be evaluated on artistic and conceptual content, design and composition, originality, technical skill and creative potential.

If possible we recommend that your portfolio should include several examples of observational drawings, even if you plan on majoring in Photography or Communication Design. If you have questions regarding the observational drawing component, contact the Admissions Office at 503-821-8972 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Essays

An important part of the application process are the admissions essays.

View these essays as you would an interview: it’s an opportunity for you to distinguish yourself from other applicants and share aspects of yourself that aren’t included in your portfolio. Combined with your portfolio and transcripts, these essays help us to determine your ability to be a successful student at PNCA.

Essays are rated on originality, how well they address the prompt, and grammar/spelling.

Your essay should be between 2000 and 3000 characters (about 400 to 600 words). The online form will cut off the essay at 3000 characters, so check to make sure that the entire essay is included before submitting.

Choose only TWO of the following four prompts, and write your essays in response to them.

If someone were to search for your name in 100 years on the internet, what would they find?

You just received notice that you were awarded a $10,000 grant to produce an art or design project anywhere in the world. Describe where you would go, the project you would create and why.

Assume you are alone in a museum at night, and you have the ability to bring to life one artifact/piece of art. What piece do you choose, and what do you do with it?

Tell us about a work of visual art, writing, or music that has influenced the way you see the world.

Writing Samples

If you are considering Writing as a major, you will need to submit two writing samples in PDF format in addition to your visual arts portfolio. Samples may be in any type of writing genre (fiction, non-fiction narrative, plays, scripts, poems, etc.), and can be an excerpt from a longer work. Samples should be no longer than 5 pages, double-spaced, single-sided, with a 10 pt font and 1.25” margins. Please include your full legal name at the beginning of the sample.

Transcripts - General Information

For the purposes of your application, you will be submitting unofficial transcripts. Many schools and colleges allow you to access your records online, and print or save unofficial copies as a PDF. If you have hard copies of your transcripts, you can use a scanner to scan and save the documents as PDF files.

All unofficial transcripts MUST be generated from their respective institutions, and must include the name of the institution as well as the student’s full legal name.

Even though you are submitting unofficial transcripts with your application, if you are accepted by PNCA, you will be required to have all official copies of your transcripts mailed directly to PNCA Admissions before you begin classes, and to receive transfer credit.

Transcripts - High School

PNCA requires a minimum GPA of 2.3.

If you are a freshman applicant, you will need to submit your current high school transcript, along with transcripts from any other high schools attended.

For the purposes of the application process, unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If you are accepted by PNCA, you will be required to have all official copies of your transcripts mailed directly to PNCA Admissions before you begin classes, and to receive transfer credit.

Applicants who are currently enrolled in their senior year of high school must submit a final transcript that documents graduation with a 2.3 minimum GPA before they can begin classes at PNCA.

If you are a transfer applicant or home schooled applicant with more than 30 completed college semester credits or 45 completed college quarter credits you do not need to submit a high school transcript or GED.

If you have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree, you are not required to submit high school transcripts.

Transcripts - College

PNCA requires a minimum GPA of 2.3.

If you are a transfer applicant, you will need to submit transcripts from ALL colleges you have attended.

For the purposes of the application process, unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If you are accepted by PNCA, you will be required to have all official copies of your transcripts mailed directly to PNCA Admissions before you begin classes, and to receive transfer credit.

If you are a transfer applicant or home schooled applicant with more than 30 completed college semester credits or 45 completed college quarter credits you do not need to submit a high school transcript or GED.

If college credit was earned while enrolled in high school, a copy of the college transcript is required in order for the courses to be considered for transfer credit.

General Equivalency Diploma - GED

If you did not complete high school, you will need to submit your General Education Development (GED) scores.

For the purposes of the application process, unofficial copies of your scores will be accepted. If you are accepted by PNCA, you will be required to have all official copies of your scores mailed directly to PNCA Admissions before you begin classes.

Test Scores

Scores from the ACT or SAT test are not required for admission. If you are currently attending high school and plan to take the ACT or SAT test and submit the results to PNCA, please know that your test scores will be used for advising purposes only.

Advanced Placement Scores

PNCA grants credit for specific course requirements based on Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations of the College Board. Scores must be submitted to PNCA by the testing service. Credit is available in Art History, Literature, Natural Science, Mathematics, and Social Science.

Letter(s) of Recommendation

Submitting a letter of recommendation is optional. If you choose to include a letter, we suggest that it be from a current teacher, guidance counselor, or mentor. Your recommendation letter may also be from an employer or professional reference. Do not submit a letter from a family member. The letter of recommendation must be mailed to PNCA.

Veterans

PNCA welcomes veterans and family members of veterans who qualify under the provisions of the United States public laws pertaining to their education. A Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs must be submitted to the Registration Office. Veterans must be accepted into the BFA program to be eligible to receive benefits.

Any veteran receiving GI Bill benefits while attending PNCA is required to obtain transcripts from all previously attended schools and submit them to the school for review of prior credit.

Visits & Tours

Although it is not required, we highly recommend a visit to PNCA. During your visit you will tour the campus and meet with an admissions counselor who will review your portfolio. Financial aid and housing information will also be available during your visit.

Notification of Acceptance

The Admissions Office reviews applications once it has received all required materials from the applicant. You will be notified by mail of PNCA’s admissions decision.

If you accept PNCA’s offer of admission, a nonrefundable $250 tuition deposit is required to secure a place in the incoming class and gain registration privileges. The tuition deposit is due on the date indicated in your acceptance letter. The $250 deposit is credited to your student account upon registration.

Deferred Enrollment

Accepted students who wish to defer admission to a subsequent semester may request a deferment from the Admissions Office. Students may not defer more than two semesters from their original acceptance semester. If a student wishes to defer further, they will need to re-apply.

Students who have taken courses at other schools since their initial acceptance to PNCA will need to submit official transcripts from those schools, and may be required to submit an updated portfolio. PNCA keeps applications on file for one year from the original application date.